TAMARAC TO BAR PUBLIC FROM EMPTY CITY OFFICES

TAMARAC -- On occasion, visitors have gone into empty city offices and rummaged through documents. Papers have been reported missing.

Now city officials are saying: No more.

The City Council tentatively has approved an ordinance that will prohibit visitors from entering city offices, except in areas designated for the general public. The law would not apply to people invited into an office to conduct business.

The proposal must be considered by the council a second time before it becomes law.

"Let them come in when the offices are attended. Let them go to the proper places to get their documentation," Mayor Norman Abramowitz said.

"Is the courthouse a public place? Would a judge allow someone to walk through their chambers?" he asked.

City officials said they think only a few residents are responsible for the intrusions.

"There are a few people who are constant violators," Abramowitz said. "It hasn't been overwhelming, but it's been very annoying."